By
On Top Magazine Staff
Published:
January 15, 2014

Actor Sir Ian McKellen and 27 Nobel
laureates from the arts and sciences are demanding that Russia repeal
a law that discriminates against LGBT people.

UK's The
Independent reports that the group made its demands in an
open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the people of
Russia.

In its letter, the group describes as
“abhorrent” the nation's law, which prohibits the promotion of
“gay propaganda” to minors.

The full letter follows.

On June 30th 2013, President Putin
signed into Russian law a nationwide ban on the “propaganda of
non-traditional sexual relations to minors”. This inhibits the
freedom of local and foreign Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered
people to speak openly about their sexuality and prohibits Gay Pride
celebrations. Scientist Harold Kroto (HK) and actor Ian McKellen
(IMcK), who have been friends since schooldays have formulated this
open letter to Mr Putin and the People of Russia and garnered support
for its sentiment from 27 Nobel Laureates. The letter is written to
indicate that many senior members of the international scientific
community show solidarity with politicians, artists, sports people
and many others who have already expressed their abhorrence for the
Russian Government's actions against its gay citizens.

In my case (HK) I have had numerous
invitations to Russia over the years and have much enjoyed the
tremendous friendship of Russian scientists, whenever I have visited.
I accepted an invitation some time ago to go to Russia in 2014
before this issue arose and although I have considered seriously
cancelling my visit I have decided to go and while in Russia make my
grave concerns clear at appropriate moments by pointing out that I
shall not consider any further invitations unless this law is
repealed or moves to repeal it are taken and in addition a serious
effort is made by the Russian Government to ensure the safety of the
Russian LGBT community. In my case (IMcK) I have been warned by the
UK Foreign Office that in Russia I could not speak openly about my
sexuality, at least in the hearing of anyone under the age of 18. I
have therefore felt that I had to turn down invitations to attend
Russian film festivals.

Protest is never easy but we hope that
by expressing opposition to the new legislation it might be possible
to encourage the Russian State to embrace the 21st Century
humanitarian, political and inclusive democratic principles which
Mikhail Gorbachev worked so hard to achieve. We are encouraged that
our serious concerns may be considered by the pardons of imprisoned
political activists which have recently been announced.